HOPES OF ENDING TRANSPORT STRIKE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5302, 15 January 1947, Page 5

HOPES OF ENDING TRANSPORT STRIKE

(press 'Assn.-

— *. parties to meet london meat marts remain idle

-Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

f LONDON, Jan. 14. There are hopes of a settlenient in ihe London transport strike, now more than a week old, follmving the announcement that both sides are to meet immediately to try to set up a new rouncil to deal with disputes. The representatives of the employers and the unions will draft a constitution for Ihe new body. Tlu1 union swretary, Mr. Arthur )eaki;i, nnn -iuiced that the finance nd jrenentl ' irposes commi tee of he Transp'Ut ard General Workers' Jnion vraui.I 'neet the sinkers' comlittee oi) W. dnesrlay morning, and here wonLi a dolegates' eonfernce later :n : be day. The Mini-f* ■ >f Lahour, Mr. Isaacs, ttended a consultation of emloyers and union officials, who gieed, an'ovdina' to a Ministry anounceaien . u, meet to-morrow mornig t« 4i>cnss immediately the estabislimwit "i *wi:i: voluntary machin:ry a;i iitienai to the wages hoard, ubjwt to ti;*1 employers' eondition 'hat neu'oti ?:jons for se tlement houhi r.«t oe:'in until the strikers esumod weri;.

The k'oai rosition prevents the rajres !>■«»:■•! '' 'un making any dec.is>ns niuil th- statutory period for obections. 1 «* i n -evious decisioil, which !il to ihe .■'.:ilie. clapses 011 Januavy 1. A uiui-M e, '!?• -h official told Reuter hat as .-■ffppa.xe by 1000 Billingsgate sh pe" ; " . ould bring the total iWtdiW! -U'k'VV to 20,000. (itiOi) Workers Out Ihe s rike spread to-day as troops -ei'o i:d!e i : o distribute London's 301I, v. hi.'h had already heen held up )r a week. Between 5000 and G'000 onden pr'iduee market workers stoped worl; v iwv the troops toolc over. So far t!»; -ervices personnel have eer. co'ifinn .> the Smithfield and iibsidiary meat markets. They have Ieavt'd ♦••.!!> :v is of meat lying at mrhlk'M au i deiivered it to shops in te Lftnd..;-, :,»ea. The scene is decribeti ;t- . • mniscent of wartime. Thm- th.ittsand workers at the bveiit tla'den market stopped vvork nmediately they learned that troops toved int i Smithfield. Oovent G arden MW elo.-ed. The ni!k-ry au.horities said a 'iprade »»:' ihe i'oldstream Guards had iken over Smithfield with ->00 or 400 ■h'olc--. \ thousand troops were as h.aders. All operations ere r disv. ■:»•(] from a control »om a: S:nrhfi» id. 'out ii was stated iat cvoryrhjrg was going according i plan. All r| the Smithfield itarket workers held a mass meetnff aml is .;«»] a statement declariiiff it was inipossihle for them to maia at v ork while "blacklegs in tniform were doin«i the wnrk of the itrikiii"' loriv d rivers." The stateitent addir: that they woitld not reurn to werk until all troops were ftithdraw n. :*eT i;!..' a trades union Itatttser ihe men and said te tronps ■ ittdy ioiryy their job. e adr-tie 1 i ;'t:e men "to hehave iu not •„ , -eoate." lloye • he'i alesmen and clerks e co-!»;o ; _ v. ;th the troons. The rike of • drivers at Uristoi fsterdny ,]. jjivolving rearly lOt'tC: *:,e, • -->rkers employed hy 'Mpalii.s -r i'arditf deeided to rike t»- i • . 1000 men are tvolved. trikers S*i|j Wurat' i n\'i)t)X, January 14. . ' ••emmittee after a ..sion .•> ... ui hours announced lat at. ; ;-a; :tnir!;ets were now on !' , '' "We shall have lL a* 'ii ending this strike." he P,. .! Ministry stated that dts'.vf, ;lIl the meat at Mitnfieirl- Vo tons — to London j°P> to-day. yi; v army trucks loadtyith meat te.- ; at Smithfield late 1 night ree.jy I',,.. uitloading to-mor-•J moi'rii :r,. s ddiers and extra •Jw niuin iib ,-d a night guard. ockers at -fut hampton refused to 8 ^ a srt'ituier 45 tons of meat for e fhatuie! Ntands. Employees of 6 T°iis vai'e.s atid a number of '-e.-elved not to handle vlvcli troops had brought.